began milking, too. The dairyman
looked on in astonishment.

"Great rattlers, miss!" he exclaimed. "Where did you learn how to milk?"

"Why, up at my home in New York state," she replied. "I made all the
butter from two splendid cows, and more often did the milking than the
hired help did."

"Well," said he, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen you
milking this morning."

She was talking with the dairyman when Fred showed up, exclaiming:

"Hello! Why didn't you make an alarm when you got up so that I could
have heard it."

"Oh, I didn't like to break up little boys' sleep. It is good for them."

The dairyman chuckled at the retort, and so did Fred.

Evelyn milked the pail full, turned it over to the dairyman and went to
see the little pigs.

"Evelyn," said Fred, "how would you like to take a ride over the ranch?
We'll get back in time for breakfast."

"I would like it very much, provided you give me a safe horse to ride."

Fred went into the stable and saddled the big grays. They were almost a
match in size and appearance for the two big grays which Evelyn had sold
up North, and she greatly admired them. She stood there in the lot
waiting for them to be made ready, and then, without going into the
house to get a hat or any other article of dress, she placed her foot in
Fred's hand, which he held out for her, and was quickly lifted in the
saddle.

"Are you going without your hat, Evelyn?" Fred asked.

"Yes, the early morning sun can do me no harm, for it has hardly got its
eyes open yet."

"All right; open the gate, Joe," and the dairyman went to the outer gate
and held it open for them to pass through.

They went dashing down toward the spring, and when they reached there
Fred dismounted, went to where a big, native-raised gourd was hanging to
a bush, dipped it full of the water and handed it up to her.

She drank copiously of it, smacked her lips and said:

"Oh, my, Fred! I can taste both sulphur and iron plainly."

"Yes, those ingredients are the strongest in its composition, if it were
nearer town it would become a the place of resort."

"Well, you must make it one, anyway. You must lay off the grounds
beautifully, thin out the timber somewhat so flowers will grow and yet
leave enough to form plenty of shade. Then if you build a few cottages,
or maybe a hotel, it would easily become a resort--that is, if I am any
judge of the water. It tastes perfectly delicious to me, and really I
b